India willing to support Nepal's political parties: Mathai

"India firmly believes that the constitution-writing process and the political process of taking democracy forward should be Nepal-driven. We wish their political parties well in this endeavour. We will extend any support needed for that", Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai told reporters here.

He was asked if India was concerned over the fact that the political parties in Nepal have not yet succeeded in evolving a consensus on drafting the new constitution with just two days left for the deadline, triggering a political crisis in the Himalayan nation.

Mathai said India was watching the developments in Nepal and monitoring the reports emanating from that country on the poliical process.

Major political parties including the Maoists, Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and the Joint Madhesi Front intensified consultations in an effort to forge consensus on key issues of constitution drafting.

With the Supreme Court staying the government's move to extend the Constituent Assembly's term by another three months, the parties have been left with just a couple of days to finish the task, failing which fresh elections will have to be held for the Constituent Assembly.